Hunting vest

ABSTRACT

A hunting vest for use in hunting animals, such as turkeys, in conjunction with an animal call having a friction plate and a striker includes a front panel and a rear panel with a pair of shoulder straps connecting the front panel with the rear panel. The hunting vest includes a striker pocket that is connected to the front panel, with the striker pocket having an open arcuate top edge and a closed bottom edge. A series of seams define individual sleeves in the striker pocket to independently support at least one striker. The hunting vest additional includes a friction plate pocket connected that is connected to the front panel to releasably support the friction plate of the turkey call. An expandable game bag pouch is detachably affixed to the rear panel. The game bag pouch includes a shell surrounding a game bag and a sealing member along the shell to open the shell and release the game bag to supported any harvested turkeys.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hunting vest, and more particularly, to a hunting vest for use in hunting fowl such as turkeys or other animals.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hunters, especially turkey hunters, commonly find it difficult to carry the tools required to effectively pursue the desired game. For example, hunters often attempt to carry calls, call strikers, seat cushions, storage containers, game scents, ammunition, and various other items to the desired location for hunting. Adding to the difficulty is that hunters wish to reach the desired location quietly and efficiently while toting the various hunting tools. Furthermore, once the hunter has reached the destination, the hunter's movement is limited in order to avoid startling the hunted game. The more quickly that the hunter is able to reach the destination, the more quickly the hunter will be able to wait quietly for the game and decrease the likelihood that the prey will become alerted to the hunter. Therefore, what is needed is a hunting vest that assists a hunter in transporting and using equipment in a stealthy manner while hunting.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the present invention provides a hunting vest that allows the user to carry and use various hunting accessories in an efficient and quiet manner. In particular, the hunting vest is used in hunting turkeys in conjunction with a turkey call having a friction plate and a striker. The hunting vest includes a front panel and a rear panel, with a pair of shoulder straps connecting the front panel with the rear panel. A striker pocket is connected to the front panel of the hunting vest, with the striker pocket having an open arcuate top edge and a closed bottom edge. A series of seams define individual sleeves in the striker pocket to independently support at least one striker. The hunting vest additional includes a friction plate pocket connected that is connected to the front panel to releasably support the friction plate of the turkey call. Consequently, the user is able to traverse an area being hunted without generating undesired noise and disrupting the surrounding game.

An expandable game bag pouch is additionally detachably affixed to the rear panel of the hunting vest. The game bag pouch includes a shell surrounding a game bag and a sealing member along the shell to open the shell and release the game bag. Therefore, the game bag is able to support any turkeys harvested by the hunter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A hunting vest embodying the features of the invention is depicted in the accompanying drawings, which form a portion of this disclosure, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front plan view of the hunting vest; and

FIG. 2 is a rear plan view of the hunting vest.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Looking to FIGS. 1 and 2, a hunting vest 10 for hunting fowl, namely turkeys, is illustrated. The hunting vest 10 is designed to carry the tools needed by the user to effectively hunt turkeys with an ergonomic arrangement of the components stored in the hunting vest 10. The ergonomic design of the hunting vest 10 not only places the hunting tools in easy access by the user, but also limits the undesired noise produced by the user while approaching the desired location for hunting, providing the user with an additional advantage in quietly seeking the desired game.

In more detail, the hunting vest 10 includes a front panel 12 (see FIG. 1) and a rear panel 14 (see FIG. 2). The front panel 12 is connected to the rear panel 14 via a pair of shoulder straps 16 and various side straps 19. Furthermore, each of the shoulder straps 16 may include a non-slip rubber portion 18 that provides comfort to the user and prevents or limits the hunting vest 10 from repositioning itself on the user, such as when the hunting vest 10 is carrying a heavy load or when the user is crouching or bending over. The front panel 12 is divided into a right panel 12 a and a left panel 12 b that are detachably joined together via connectors 13, which could include various embodiments such as a snap connector, a buckle, buttons, or a zipper. The rear panel 14 includes a padded upper back portion 15 a and a lower support portion 15 b.

One of the more frequently used tools in turkey hunting is a turkey friction call (not illustrated), and the ergonomic design of the hunting vest 10 allows the user to easily store and access the components of a turkey friction call. Turkey friction calls are one of the most common turkey calls used by hunters because they are easy to use and create lifelike turkey sounds. Turkey friction calls typically include a friction plate having a round surface and a striker, with the striker including a barrel and a peg. The user will conventionally hold the barrel of the striker in one hand and the friction plate in the other, and then create the desired sound by drawing the peg across the round surface. The round surface is typically a surface made of slate, aluminum, ceramic or a variety of other similar materials, and the peg of the striker may be made of acrylic, wood, or a similar material, such that the call will produce a sound similar to that made by a turkey.

To assist the user in carrying the components of a turkey friction call, the ergonomic design of the hunting vest 10 initially includes a fan-shaped striker pocket 20 affixed to the front panel 12. The striker pocket 20 is used to support one or more turkey call strikers. To assist the hunter in quickly and quietly gripping the turkey call striker (which typically includes a barrel segment and a striking segment), the striker pocket 20 is designed with a closed base 24 and an open arcuate top 26, with the arcuate top 26 being positioned above the base 24 and the striker pocket 20 arranged diagonally across the user's chest when worn by the user. A series of seams 22 run the length of the striker pocket 20 from the base 24 to the top 26. The seams 22 define individual sleeves 23 in the striker pocket 20 for holding individual turkey call strikers, so that the user can carry strikers with pegs made of different materials as described above. A flap 26 a or similar closing member is proximate the arcuate top 26, such that the flap 26 a will secure the striker in each sleeve 23. Moreover, the sleeves 23 keep the strikers from touching each other and generating undesired noise, which reduces the chances of the user scaring any prey within the vicinity of the user.

Furthermore, the striker pocket 20 is designed such that the barrel segment of the strikers will be positioned proximate the arcuate top 26, ensuring that the user will retrieve the striker from the striker pocket 20 by the barrel segment of the striker. This is desirable, in that users of turkey call strikers wish to avoid touching the striking segment of the striker, which could contaminate the tip of the trigger. Consequently, the present embodiment eliminates potential contamination of the tips of the striker by providing access to the barrels of the strikers in the striker pocket 20.

In addition to a turkey call striker pocket 20, the hunting vest 10 also includes a friction plate pocket 21 for holding the friction plate that is engaged by the striker to generate the desired sound. The friction plate pocket 21 is attached to the front panel 12, and able to hold one or more friction plates, and protects the plates from contact with the weather or other elements (such as dust or dirt) that can degrade the quality of sound produced by the plate. The friction plate pocket 21 may be sealed using a metal or plastic grommet, sewn button hole opening, molded opening, hook and loop material, a zipper, or a similar connector to securely hold the friction plate 21 until used by the hunter.

The hunting vest 10 also includes a striker conditioner pocket 30 affixed to the front panel 12 for use with the turkey call. The striker conditioner pocket 30 is designed to hold a striker conditioner (not illustrated) for easy access by the user. Like the friction plate pocket 21, the striker conditioner pocket 30 includes an exterior pocket that is secured using a metal or plastic grommet, sewn button hole opening, molded opening, hook and loop material, a zipper, or a similar connector. The striker conditioner pocket 30 provides an opening to the striker conditioner, which is typically a scouring pad or similar item, that is able to tune or scuff the surface of the playing tip of a turkey call striker.

The hunting vest 10 is additionally designed with an expandable game bag pouch 32 that is affixed to the bottom portion of the rear panel 14 of the hunting vest 10 via connecting straps 34. The expandable game bag pouch 32 includes an outer shell 34 with a closing member 36 encircling the outer shell 34. The closing member 36 may be a zipper, buttons, or some other means for securely closing the outer shell 34. A game bag 38 is affixed to the expandable game bag pouch 32 inside the outer shell 34, such that the game bag 38 may be transferable from a confining closed position and an expanded opened position to receive the body of a turkey. As a result, when the user has harvested a turkey, the user will be able to detach the game bag pouch 32, unfasten the closing member 36 of the outer shell 34, and release the game bag 38 for storing the harvested bird. The game bag pouch 32 may then be reattached to the rear panel 14 of the hunting vest 10 so that the user may easily transport the game.

Continuing to view FIG. 2, the hunting vest 10 additionally includes an independent identifier 28 that is permanently affixed to either the front panel 12 or the rear panel 14. The identifier 28 is used to consecutively number each individual hunting vest 10 via an affixed metal tag, an embroidered number, an embossed leather label, or some other method that provides for permanent identification of the hunting vest 10.

In operation, the connectors 13 of the front panel 12 are disconnected, and the hunting vest 10 is placed around the user's upper torso, such that the user's head is between the two shoulder straps 16 and the user's arms are be positioned, respectively, between one shoulder strap 16 and one side strap 19. Once around the user, the connectors 13 are united, and the length of the side straps 19 are adjusted so that the hunting vest 10 comfortably fits the user. Once the user is wearing the hunting vest 10, the user will be able to insert the components of the turkey call into the various ergonomically positioned pockets for safe and quite storage of the components until the user reaches the desired hunting location. The user may then access the components of the turkey call upon reaching the desired destination, and begin generating the desired sound for drawing calling the desired game.

Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it should be noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations, and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments as illustrated herein, but is only limited by the following claims. 

1. An ergonomic vest for use in hunting fowl with a turkey call having a friction plate and a striker, said vest comprising: a front panel; a rear panel; a pair of shoulder straps connecting said front panel with said rear panel, said shoulder straps having a rubber portion; a fan-shaped striker pocket connected to said front panel, said striker pocket comprising at least one individual sleeve to independently support at least one striker; and a friction plate pocket connected to said front panel to releasably support the friction plate.
 2. The vest as described in claim 1, wherein said striker pocket comprises: a closed first end; an open second end longer than said first end; and a closing member proximate said second end, wherein the striker is positioned proximate said open send end for the user to retrieve the striker.
 3. The vest as described in claim 2, wherein said striker pocket includes at least one seam define multiple sleeves.
 4. The vest as described in claim 1, further comprising an expandable game bag pouch affixed to said rear panel.
 5. The vest as described in claim 3, wherein said expandable game bag pouch comprises: a hollow shell; a game bag affixed inside said shell; and a sealing member along said shell, said sealing member releasably restraining said game bag in said shell.
 6. The vest as described in claim 1 further comprising an independent identifier permanently affixed to said vest, said identifier selected from the group consisting of a metal tag, an embroidered label, or embossed leather label.
 7. The vest as described in claim 1 further comprising an independent identifier permanently affixed to said front panel, said identifier selected from the group consisting of metal tags, embroidery, or an embossed leather label.
 8. The vest as described in claim 1 further comprising a pair of adjustable side straps connecting said front panel with said rear panel.
 9. The vest as described in claim 1 wherein said front panel comprises: a right panel; a left panel, and a connector detachably joining said right panel with said left panel.
 10. A hunting vest for use in hunting turkeys in conjunction with a turkey call having a friction plate and a striker, said hunting vest comprising: a front panel; a rear panel; a pair of shoulder straps connecting said front panel with said rear panel; a striker pocket connected to said front panel, said striker pocket having an open arcuate top edge, a closed bottom edge, and a series of seams defining individual sleeves to independently support at least one striker; and a friction plate pocket connected to said front panel to releasably support the friction plate of the turkey call.
 11. The hunting vest as described in claim 10, wherein said striker pocket comprises: a closing member proximate said top edge to securely position the striker in said striker pocket.
 12. The hunting vest as described in claim 10 further comprising an expandable game bag pouch detachably affixed to said rear panel.
 13. The hunting vest as described in claim 12, wherein said expandable game bag pouch comprises: a shell surrounding a game bag; and a sealing member along said shell to unfasten said shell to release said game bag.
 14. The hunting vest as described in claim 10 further comprising: an independent identifier permanently affixed to said rear panel, said identifier selected from the group consisting of a metal tag, an embroidered label, or embossed leather label.
 15. The hunting vest as described in claim 10 further comprising: a pair of adjustable side straps connecting said front panel with said rear panel.
 16. The hunting vest as described in claim 10 wherein said front panel comprises: a right panel; a left panel, and a connector detachably linking said right panel with said left panel.
 17. The hunting vest as described in claim 10 further comprising a striker conditioner pocket to support a striker conditioner.
 18. The hunting vest as described in claim 10, wherein said rear panel further comprises: a padded upper back portion; and a lower support portion connected to the upper back portion.
 19. The hunting vest as described in claim 18, further comprising: at least one adjustable side strap connecting said lower support portion with said front panel. 